As at April 2007, when Brian Lara retired from international cricket his batting statistics were remarkable. Lara, a brilliant left-handed batsman, scored 11,953 runs in his 131 Tests - an average of 52.88, which includes 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries, including an amazing 400 not out.

Brian Lara's first class cricket total of 21,993 runs, again at an average of over 50, includes a highest score of 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994, which included the most runs in one day (390) and the most fours in an innings (72).

Brian Lara made his test debut against Pakistan in 1990.

In 1994, when playing Australia, Lara hit a Test record score of 277. In 2004, he regained his record with 400 not out against England.

Lara's ups and downs for West Indies were mainly off the pitch. In the mid-1990s he had a dispute with Richie Richardson and he was also reprimanded by the West Indies Cricket Board. Nevertheless he was given the captaincy in 1998, but temporarily lost it over a pay dispute.

Lara would end up having three spells as captain of the West Indies.

The BBC article, Lara - the great entertainer, quotes the batsman as saying: "Another thing that I'm proud of is that I've been knocked down so many times, both as a player and a person, and come back. I need to thank my parents for that, for being able to go out there in the face of adversity and perform. It's a family trait."

In his first season at Warwickshire, he hit nine hundreds and amassed 2066 runs. For part of his spell at Warwickshire Brian Lara was coached by Bob Woolmer.